The First United Methodist Church focuses on making a Christian difference in the lives of others within as well as beyond our community by ministering to their needs. Everyone is welcome to be involved in any of these outreach programs to serve our community and support local missions:
MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support)
Sometimes MOMS just need to talk to other MOMS. Our MOMS group is a monthly program for all moms and grandmothers raising children. We meet the first Friday of every month - August-May. Nursery and preschool activities provided during our regular meetings
Angels & Elves Shopping Trip
Beforehand, we contact local schools for names of a students needing some extra love and help for Christmas. We get sizes, wish lists and all kinds of information before the big shopping day for the whole family. One child from the family, the "angel," gets to come shop with us, picking out all the goodies to surprise their family. We secretly get some goodies for that child too. On shopping day, we divide our youth and chaperones into groups, "the Elves." Each group goes and picks the Angel up at their house, brings them shopping, returns to the church with the Angel and all the goodies. There, we tell them the real reason for Christmas and why we bought things for them, play games, and feed them while we have teams wrap all the surprises in a separate area. The Angels' family is then invited to join us all for dinner that evening. At the end of the night, we return the Angel to their family where they get to deliver wrapped gifts to their family (if the family doesn't attend the dinner). We also have a bag of household necessities like cleaning supplies or paper goods we deliver as well. This has been the longest continuing youth mission or possibly any mission our church has done. We know our youth have done this probably 40 years. The youth raise the money throughout the year doing fundraisers to raise the money for this event.
Back to School Orange
One Saturday each August, many local churches, schools, and businesses in Orange County come together to donate school supplies, immunizations, haircuts and other services needed to support children in Orange County as they return to school each August. FUMC-Orange will be collected lined paper (college and wide-ruled) for the August 2023 event.
Bereavement Meals
Church members prepare and serve meals to those who have experienced a recent death in their family. Meals are provided at the church before or following the funeral or they can be delivered to the family’s home.
Orange Christian Services
First United Methodist Church Orange donates funds, food and other items such as toiletries needed by families in Orange County to the Orange Christian Services. Place items in labeled containers in the hallway between the Welcome Center and Chapel or place monetary donations in the baskets provided during communion on the first Sunday of each month.
Rainbow Room
Orange County Rainbow Room is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization which stocks an in-house emergency supply center located within the Orange County CPS office. Caseworkers use tems for abused and neglected children. To help children who have been removed from their homes, First United Methodist Church Orange provides funds through cash donations for the purchase of items such as car seats, pack 'n plays, twin bed sheets, mattresses, and beds.
Seafarers
Located inside the Port of Beaumont, the Seafarers’ Center of Beaumont is an ecumenical ministry serving all foreign and domestic seafarers. Here, seafarers can rest, relax, worship and enjoy a few hours on land before returning to sea. Transportation from the ship to the Center as well as to a variety of destinations is also provided. Donations of toiletries, magazines, and money are collected.
UM ARMY
High school youth go to a UM ARMY camp each summer to provide hands-on work to improve homes for homeowners in need. We also host UM ARMY camp groups most summers. Students come from all parts of Texas to stay in the Malloy Center and spend their days building wheelchair ramps, patching floors and walls, mowing yards, and blessing many people in the Southeast Texas community.
For more information about any of the above outreach programs, call the church office at 409-886-7466.